29 June 2001
Goncharik signature collectors in Brest quit, citing pressure

 Some Brest region-based signature collectors for Vladimir Goncharik, leader of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus, have quit, citing pressure, Mr. Goncharik's campaign coordinator in Brest, Anatoly
Levkovich, told BelaPAN.
"Those people had sent us applications to participate in the campaign. They are now withdrawing, citing pressure. They do not say who is putting pressure on them," Mr. Levkovich said. According to him, Mr. Goncharik's support group in the Brest region has about 700 members, and the withdrawals cannot seriously affect the union boss's campaign.
"We already have 6,000 signatures for Goncharik. It took us a week to collect them. And we still have plenty of time," Mr. Levkovich said. Like other bidders for the Belarusian presidency in this fall's elections Mr. Goncharik needs to gather at least 100,000 voter signatures by July 20 to get on the ballot.